Looking to learn more about New York City and how you can get cheap car insurance? Well, Among major cities across the country, New York is unique. From Central Park to Times Square to the Bowery and beyond, no other metropolitan area comes close to offering as many attractions. Perhaps the most exceptional aspect of New York City life has to do with the automobile. If owning one there is hard, driving it is harder, and parking it can be nearly impossible. Nevertheless, people drive in Manhattan all the time. If you intend to be one of them, here's what you need to know.

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NYC Driving Conditions and Hazards

Some say that in NYC, the best way to drive is to put someone else behind the wheel. While this may be stretching the truth, anyone who operates a vehicle on New York City streets will have a few things to consider. Pedestrians top the list. Their "New York minute" proclivities will often tempt them to cross mid-block or against the light, and they will frequently do so en masse. Other hazards of which to beware include bicycles, horses, buses and cabs. Livery drivers in particular often take chances. It's best to drive defensively and steer clear of them if you can.

Traffic Laws Specific to NYC

When driving in the area, it's best to keep the NYC traffic rules firmly in mind. For a brief overview, remember that: - U-turns are verboten in the business district. - Except where otherwise stated, a speed limit of 30 mph is standard throughout the area. - No driver may back into or stop within the boundaries of a crosswalk or intersection. - Double parking is illegal, as is leaving a vehicle next to a hydrant, in front of a driveway or in a "no standing" zone. In addition, as many have already learned, alternate-side parking regulations can prove expensive for those who fail to move their cars at the appointed hour.

In New York state, you can be fined $25 for flirting, and you’re not supposed to wear slippers after 10 p.m.

NYC Crime

Its huge population could be responsible for New York's high tally of criminal offenses. In the year 2011, the number of reported NYC property crimes included:

• Robberies: 19,773
• Burglaries: 18,159
• Larcenies and thefts: 112,864
• Motor vehicle thefts: 9,434

According to the FBI, 7,386 vehicles were reported stolen in 2015 in New York City, and 129,860 property crimes were reported.

NYC Safety Requirements

New York City's rules for traffic safety follow the dictates of the statewide highway safety program.

Seat Belt Law

New York state law requires that all children under age 4 ride in a child safety seat and all children under age 8 ride in a child restraint system, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Meanwhile, all front-seat passengers must wear a seat belt, and children under age 16 must wear a seat belt while riding in the front or back seat.

Cellphone Law

Under New York state law, you can’t use a handheld mobile phone or portable electronic device while driving. The fine for a first-time offense is $50 to $200, and $50 to $250 for a second-time offense.

Helmet Law

In New York state, all motorcycle operators and passengers must wear a helmet.

Meanwhile, all bicyclists under age 14 must wear a helmet as an operator or passenger. In addition, children age 1 to 4 must sit in a special child safety seat; no under age 1 is allowed to ride on a bicycle.

Impaired Driving Law

A driver 21 or older can be charged with DWI with blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more. For a driver under 21, the BAC window is 0.02 percent to 0.07 percent under the state’s “zero tolerance” law.

For someone 21 and over convicted of a first-time DWI offense, the fine ranges between $500 and $1,000, and a license suspension lasts at least six months. For a second-time offense, a five-day jail sentence or 30 days of community service is required, while the fine is $500 to $5,000, and the license suspension is at least one year. In both cases, installation of an ignition interlock device is mandated.

Refusal to take a BAC chemical test results in at least a one-year license suspension.

While driving in NYC can be difficult, it is not impossible, and an awareness of the area's specific laws will make it that much safer.